City of Independence v. Elder

653 S.W.2d 393, 1983 Mo. App. LEXIS 2996
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 7, 1983
DocketNo. WD 33830
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 653 S.W.2d 393 (City of Independence v. Elder) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City of Independence v. Elder, 653 S.W.2d 393, 1983 Mo. App. LEXIS 2996 (Mo. Ct. App. 1983).

Opinion

MANFORD, Judge.

This is an appeal from a conviction for a misdemeanor violation, interfering with a police officer, in violation of a municipal ordinance. The judgment is affirmed.

Appellant presents two points, which in summary charge that the trial court erred in (1) denying his motion for acquittal because the evidence failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt all elements of the ordinance violation for which he was charged, in that the City failed to prove there was a lawful arrest of appellant with which he could interfere; and (2) in admitting evidence, over objection, related to appellant’s physical condition, because that evidence was outside the scope of the information in that the information was silent as to appellant’s physical condition when he was arrested.

On October 3, 1981 at approximately 10:20 p.m., Officer Abraham of the Independence, Missouri Police Department stopped a motor vehicle being operated by Terry Lasley at the intersection of Noland Road and 23rd Street in Independence, Missouri. Lasley was charged with driving while intoxicated and having an expired vehicle license (state tags). Appellant was a passenger in Lasley’s vehicle.

Without objection, Officer Abraham testified that appellant appeared intoxicated. This same officer was also asked, and without objection responded, as follows: “Q. Was he [appellant] in any condition to be left by himself, officer? A. Not in my opinion, he was not.”

Another officer, Passiglia, who had arrived on the scene, took appellant into custody for safekeeping.1 Officer Abraham was then asked what he observed at this point. In summary, the officer stated that he observed appellant and Officer Passiglia walking toward the “paddy wagon” and that he heard appellant say to Officer Pas-siglia, “Take your hands away from me.” Appellant pulled away from Officer Passig-lia and attempted to strike the officer. A struggle ensued and Officer Abraham went [395]*395to assist Officer Passiglia. The struggle continued, during which appellant obtained Officer Passiglia’s nightstick. Appellant tried to strike both officers with the nightstick before he was disarmed and subdued. Upon cross-examination, Officer Abraham testified again that appellant was intoxicated.

Officer Passiglia testified that he arrived at the scene, and that appellant was intoxicated. He informed appellant that he was going to be taken into custody for safekeeping. Passiglia stated further that as he was escorting appellant to the “paddy wagon” appellant swung his right arm toward the officer’s head. The officer “blocked the punch”, and appellant and Officer Passiglia “rolled to the ground”. Passiglia further testified that appellant continued to be combative and was carried to the “paddy wagon”. A third officer, Willoughby, testified that he arrived at the scene and observed appellant trying to pull away from and strike Officer Passiglia. Willoughby joined in and helped subdue appellant. Without objection, a fourth officer testified that appellant was intoxicated. After the introduction and admission of the applicable municipal ordinances, the city rested. Appellant’s motion for acquittal was denied.

Appellant testified. On cross-examination, he admitted that he had been drinking, but denied being intoxicated. He admitted that he was aware the officers were acting in their official capacity as police officers. He further testified that he was ordered from Lasley’s vehicle by Officer Abraham and that the officer got “cocky”. Appellant stated that as he got out of the vehicle, Officer Abraham had his nightstick in his hand “slapping it in his other hand.” Appellant testified that Officer Abraham made some comment about his “Harley shirt”, and while standing there, the officer struck him in the ribs. Appellant claimed that he raised his hand to stop the blow; the officer became mad, and “went wild and came at [his] head with the baton.” Appellant stated that he caught the baton and held onto it. The other officers were with Lasley. Appellant stated that Abraham jerked the baton and made it look like a fight, and then Officer Passiglia threw him to the ground. Appellant then stated that Abraham tried to strangle him with the baton; he raised his hand to stop it but did not fight with the officers. Appellant stated that after the officers subdued him, Abraham struck him and tried to kick him. He stated that these latter events occurred while he was on the ground, and that while on the ground he saw the mace coming. He was taken to the “paddy wagon” and did not try to run. Appellant stated that at no time at the scene was he ever told he was under arrest.

The evidence closed. Appellant’s second motion for acquittal was denied. Appellant was found guilty and was assessed a penalty by the court. Appeal was lodged with the Circuit Court, 16th Judicial Circuit, which upheld the ruling of the Municipal Court of Independence, Missouri. The current appeal then followed.

Appellant’s point (1) is found to be merit-less and is ruled against him.

Appellant was charged pursuant to § 12.-04.003 of the ordinances of Independence, Missouri, which reads:

“SEC. 12.04.003. INTERFERENCE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
A. No person shall knowingly and willfully obstruct, resist, or oppose any police officer, any member of the police department, or any person duly empowered with police authority, while in the discharge or apparent discharge of his duty, or in any way interfere with or hinder him in the discharge of his duty.”

The record shows that Officer Passiglia was in the process of taking appellant into custody for safekeeping. The officer has such authority pursuant to § 67.315. The evidence further reveals that while Passig-lia was taking appellant to the paddy wagon, appellant interfered with Officer Pas-siglia. This interference was in the nature of an altercation involving appellant, Pas-siglia, and two other officers.

Appellant argues that his arrest was unlawful because he was arrested for public intoxication which is prohibited by Missouri [396]*396law. He further contends that there is no evidence that he interfered with anything going on with the driver Lasley. Appellant quotes from the information filed herein:

“ * * * that on or about the 3rd day of October, A.D. 1981, in the City of Independence, County of Jackson, State of Missouri, Douglas Elder did willfully, wrongfully, and unlawfully interfere with Officer Passiglia who was discharging his official Police duties, to-wit: by attempting to run away from Officer Passiglia after being placed under arrest, by physically resisting handcuffing and being placed in the paddy wagon. This occurred near 23rd and Noland at around 10:20 P.M. * * * ” (emphasis added)

Appellant charges that this matter is disposed of by State v. Furne, 642 S.W.2d 614, 615 (Mo. banc 1982). His reliance upon Furne is misplaced, as that case is distinguishable. In Furne, appellant was charged with the felony of resisting arrest. The state Supreme Court pointed out the existence of conflict as to what constituted the underlying offense. The court noted that one officer testified that appellant was arrested for disturbing the peace. The court further noted that another officer testified that the information stated that appellant was arrested for disorderly conduct.

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Bluebook (online)
653 S.W.2d 393, 1983 Mo. App. LEXIS 2996, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-of-independence-v-elder-moctapp-1983.